Dear Marvin,
Once again, you've outclassed and outdone the mainstream media with your reporting on Cuba. I just
finished reading your June 2007 issue entitled "Cuba Tomorrow," and once again was impressed with
your insightful and balanced reporting and commentary. Everyone who cares about the Cuban issue
should read James Suckling's interview of Ricardo Alarcon, president of the Cuban National
Assembly, because you won't find this kind of coverage in any other U.S. publication. I read every
piece, including the tired, old rants from Congressman [Lincoln] Diaz-Balart (one can't help but
feel that 10 years after Castro's passing, Diaz-Balart will still be writing the same
diatribes).

As I read your Cuba issue, I was reminded of a recent debate on the Cuban travel ban, held in
Miami. One of the panelists was anti-travel ban Congressman Jeff Flake. As Flake spoke, I couldn't
help but feel that the only "foreigner" on the debate panel in this American city was this
low-key, white-bread congressman from Arizona. The more I listened, and with all due respect to
the other anti-ban panelist, Professor Lisandro Perez, it became clear that Flake was the lone
defender of American ideals of liberty and free speech—by word and by example. He wasn't fazed by
a pro-embargo panelist's idiotic charge that Flake's presence at this debate, in Rep. [Ileana]
Ros-Lehtinen's district, was a sign of disrespect to the congresswoman. None of the shrill in the
air fazed Flake; he wasn't moved by the weak arguments in favor of keeping the travel ban. In more
ways than one, I think Flake represents the sentiments of the majority of Americans, especially
those who live in the libertarian West from which he hails. And I sincerely believe that this is
what scares the likes of Diaz-Balart the most. Those who favor the travel ban know what usually
happens when their positions are put in front of the broader, freedom-loving American public: they
simply don't hold up; they don't withstand Americans' sense of liberty and right. Just like when
they were exposed to the ugliness of the Elián González episode, Americans will react in disbelief
and clamor for decency and justice. They will demand that all Americans be given the right to
travel and visit their relatives no matter where they may be living on this planet or when they
want to travel. How ironic that a white-bread Republican from the West has become the best friend
of those Miami Cubans who are dying to see their relatives in Cuba.

Manny Gonzalez
Miami Beach, Florida

Dear Marvin,
Your latest issue about Cuba shows just how screwed up our government is. Cuba is not a threat to
this country any longer and we are wasting taxpayer dollars having cigar purchases investigated.
If the government cared about this country, maybe it would stop firearm sales over the Internet;
maybe the tragedy of Virginia Tech never would have happened. It seems to me that administration
after administration, both Republicans and Democrats, seems to think Cuba is about to invade the
United States tomorrow.

A lot of economic growth can occur with economic relations with Cuba and would create lots of
jobs. This country needs to rethink its priorities about our policies and make some that will be
of benefit to this country. It is OK to get info on how to build a bomb on the Internet, but if
you buy a Punch Double Corona you can go to jail.

Jason Bloom
Warrington, Pennsylvania

Dear Marvin,
As a longtime subscriber to Cigar Aficionado, I always look forward to the arrival of the
magazine. But I would prefer that you continue covering articles about cigars and stay away from
Cuba's political situation. I am one of the many Cubans who would rather die in freedom in the
United States than return to the oppression of the communist government. Now that Raúl Castro,
known as the Butcher of Santiago, is supposed to be in control in Cuba, nothing will change.
Traveling to China has not changed the communist oppression in that country or improved its human
rights. I believe that the key for change in Cuba can only come when human rights are honored and
there are no more political prisoners in jail.

Dr. Celestino Heres
Norwalk, Connecticut

Dear Marvin,
Thank you for your June 2007 issue focusing on Cuba. Gregory Mottola's article, "Travel Ban
Update," gave an accurate picture of the current situation relative to travel to Cuba. What I
would like to add is that there is an important bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R.
654, the "Export Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2007," which would once again allow Americans to
travel legally to Cuba.

If you believe that U.S. citizens should have the same rights afforded to citizens of Canada,
Europe, South America and the rest of the world and be able to travel to Cuba without the threat
of an enormous government fine, then you should take a minute and contact your U.S.
representatives and ask them to support this bill. Then you can enjoy Cuban cigars on their home
territory, under the palm trees, on the white beaches of this beautiful island.

Diane Stradling
Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Dear Marvin,
I've subscribed to Cigar Aficionado for years now and for the most part found it to be harmless
and mildly entertaining. However, your continuous fawning over Fidel has become tiresome and
patently offensive. I fail to understand your apparent fascination with a brutal, two-bit dictator
who has systematically tortured and murdered his own people for almost 50 years. Did you ever ask
yourself why so many Cubans risk their lives just to leave the place? No, I didn't think so.

Fortunately, there will come a time (hopefully soon) when Fidel is no longer with us and the
Cuban people will find a way to regain their freedom. Then, liberal sycophants like you and your
self-absorbed, narcissistic Hollywood pals will have to find a new trendy cause to champion. In
the meantime, there are plenty of good cigars to smoke which are not from Cuba, and other
magazines to read.

Bruce Edmund
Roswell, Georgia

Dear Marvin,
I thoroughly enjoyed your June 2007 articles on the future of the trade embargo against Cuba and I
would like to thank all the contributors for voicing their opinion on this matter. Rep.
Diaz-Balart's contribution, though, was nothing more than rhetoric to rally his Hialeah voting
base. His comparisons of Portugal's and Spain's democratic transitions to the possible political
shift in Cuba are baseless and weak. These countries' success was due to the European Union's
ability to bring the countries up to economic par. Cuba has no economic institutions which could
do the same for them, as MERCOSUR (South America's economic institution) is not as strong as the
EU. Furthermore the congressman says that we should punish the Cuban government for its human
rights violations, yet the United States maintains open and friendly relations with countries who
engage in larger-scale violations, such as China. This being the case, the moral high ground the
representative would like to take is compromised. I hope the readers of this publication can see
through the fallacies that the congressman spews as lacking evidence and credibility. We, as
voters, citizens of the world and, most importantly, men who enjoy a good smoke, should not allow a congressman who manipulates his scorned Cuban-American voting bloc to direct policy that affects so many.

William Anderson
Gainesville, Florida

Dear Marvin,
I was deeply touched by the June edition of Cigar Aficionado. It conjured up the aroma of Cuba's
finest tobacco. The pictures and articles of Cuba took me on a melancholy trip to my homeland. I
read the magazine from cover to cover and plan to read it again. As I devoured the stories, I
pondered the Cuba of tomorrow. To dream of this is perhaps my claim to the things I left behind as
a child. I did not experience much of life in Cuba after Fidel's takeover. My family fled like the
many doctors, lawyers and educated professionals. We built roots all over the States and all over
the world. Infused only by our parents' memories of a paradise gone, we learned our heritage. I
still miss the beautiful beaches and fine hotels, and the men in my family miss their Cuban
cigars. Tobacco is in our blood, but we are not permitted to purchase the Cuban cigar. It would be
fantastic one day soon to show our children and grandchildren the mystic island, and the men can
celebrate by smoking Cuban cigars legally.

Alina Noval
Clearwater, Florida

Dear Marvin,
Just thought I'd let you know that Big Brother and the cigar Nazis are alive and well.

On the weekends I drive a charter coach bus for extra cash. After a long day, I dropped off all
my customers and headed back to the shop. I pulled out a cigar and enjoyed a moment of solitude
with an unlit cigar.

The next Friday, I was called into my boss's office and told that I could not have a cigar in
my mouth while driving. He said it was against the law and against company policy. The image of
the company might suffer. How could the company suffer if I'm alone in the bus? "Someone might
pass you and see one of our drivers with a cigar," he said. When I inquired as to how he knew I
had a cigar while driving, he said he saw it on the bus cameras. When I was hired, he said the
cameras on the bus were for insurance and safety issues. If the bus is in an accident, the cameras
kick in and capture 10 seconds before an accident up until 10 seconds after. Also, you can engage
them yourself if a customer is getting out of hand. Not a bad system to prove you weren't at fault
for an accident or a customer on a party bus was drunk and unruly, but I was pissed because they
were obviously spying on me. I was also pissed because I had an unlit cigar and I was not even
around customers. When I mentioned this to him, he said it didn't matter. He stated I could've
been ticketed by a cop for breaking federal law and it was against policy. When I asked him to
show me the federal laws against unlit cigarettes/cigars and the company policy against it as
well, it didn't go too well. He couldn't. It boils down to "We Say So." He who has the gold makes
the rules!

I can't wait until they start targeting McDonald's and Pepsi and taxing them for medical
complications from sugar and fat health risks. It is coming.

S. Ryan
via www.cigaraficionado.com

Dear Marvin,
I want to tell you about someone very important in my life. A little over five years ago, I met
the woman of my dreams. Her name is Danika. She is smart, beautiful, and cares a thousand times
more about others than herself. She means the world to me. Shortly after meeting her, the time
came that most single men detest -- meeting the parents!

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. We pulled up the drive, put the car in park and she
said to me, "Now don't be nervous, my dad can be pretty intimidating." Instantaneously my heart
rate skyrocketed. After entering the house and going through the proper introductions (sweaty
palms and all), I was asked, "Chris, would you like to join me for a cigar on the deck?" Now, I
had grown up in a household where smoking was everything but acceptable. My mother to this day
still tries to make me feel guilty for enjoying one of life's true pleasures.

Contemplating the situation, I agreed. He handed me a few choices and I selected the one that,
in my ignorance, looked to be the best. It was a Macanudo Robusto. We sat on the deck, smoked the
cigars and watched the autumn leaves fall, all the while getting to know each other. It was the
best day!

As my relationship with Danika progressed, so did my relationship with her father. He would get
me cigars every time we visited. I almost didn't realize it, but my love for cigars was growing
with my love for her and her family.

He has become a very big influence on my life. I go to him for advice in business, love and
life. And no matter how hard the situation may be, he is always there with wise words and a great
cigar for reflection.

I recently became the husband of that amazing woman. Her father and I enjoyed a Cuban Romeo y
Julieta that he purchased for me in Scotland. It was the best day of my life, not just because I
married the woman of my dreams, but because of the time I shared smoking with my
father-in-law.

I have been a subscriber to your fantastic magazine for a few years now and, like that first
meeting of the parents, my heart beats faster every time I open the mailbox and the gift of Cigar
Aficionado is waiting for me inside. As I look forward to every new issue, I continue to trust
that your publication will be a beacon for everyone who loves a great smoke.